Clevis.



M. CHRISTOPHERSON.

CLEVIS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1914- 1,155,887. Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

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Application filed Novemberfi, 1814: SeriaPI tol 8 7 0;6( i"7.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MANsELL GHRIsTo- PHERSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re siding at New Efiington, in the county of Roberts and Stateof South Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clevises,of which the following is a specification. I

The invention relates to a clevis, and more particularly to the class ofautomatically releasing clevises for plows, engines or other draftfarming implements.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a clevis whichis adaptable for use on a plow or other draft farming implement so thaton the striking thereof upon a stone or other obstruction the same willbe automatically released, thus obviating the possibility of thebreaking of the plow or other implement, or the evener or draft gear.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clevis of thischaracter which can be readily attached to or detached from the plow orother farming implement, and also will permit the quick connection of adraft evener or a swingletree so that when using the plow or otherfarming implement the same will beautomatically released should itcontact with a stone or other obstruction during the use thereof,thereby freeing the same to prevent the breaking of the whiffletree,evener or plow, thus minimizing the chance of repairs which wouldotherwise result therefrom.

A further object of the invention'is the provision of a clevis of thischaracter which is extremely simple in construction, strong, durable,thoroughly reliable and efficient in its purpose, and inexpensive inmanufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clevis constructedin accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transversesectional view through the clevis.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the

clevis comprises a casting A, preferably made from metal, forming asubstantially L-sh'aped rigid frame portion-5 formediat the rearmostportion thereof with spaced parallel ears 6 provided with alining holes7 adapted to detachably receive the coupling pin or the like whereby theclevis can be detachably fastened to the draft beam of a plow or otherlike farming implement. Swinginglyconnected to the forward end of theframe 5 is a releasing hook 8 which is supported upon a pivot .9 passedthrough the bifurcate'd end 10' of" the said hook, and also through theforward end of the frame 5', and with this hook is adaptedto'engage thering of the usual construction connected with the clevis on awhiflietree or draft evener, (not shown).

Formed on the frame 5' at one side thereof is a pintle eye 11 to whichis pivotally connected a locking jaw 12, the latter co6pof the hookbeing of triangular shape in,

cross section, as at 15, so as toserve as a wedge terminal for theseparation of the jaw 12 from the jaw 13 on the closing of the hook, thejaws 12 and 13 being formed with beveled ends'16 against which works 7the wedge terminal of the hook when swung to closed position so that thefree end of the hook will be lockedbetween the jaws in the seat 1 1 foraccommodating the same. Formed in the jaw 12 is an elongated slot 17through which is passed a stem '18 fixed 1n the aw 13, and upon thisstem is threadeel* a nut 19 against which works one end of a coiledexpansion spring 20, the same sur rounding the stem and having itsopposite end playing against the jaw 12 to hold the same in normalposition for locking the hook 8 closed. It will be apparent that byadjusting the nut 19, the tension of the spring 20 can be increased ordecreased as the occasion may require. Y

On the connection of a whifl'letree or evener with the clevishereinbefore set forth, and in event of the plow or other like farmingimplement while under draft striking an obstruction such as astone, theretarding of the draft of the said plowor other like implement willcause an excessive pull upon the hook 8, thereby causing it to be swungto open position and automatically released from between the aws 12 and13, thus freeing the plow or other like farming implement and the eveneror whiffietree so as to avoid damage to either of the same.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, it is thought that the construction and manner ofoperation of the device will be clearly understood, and therefore a moreextended explanation has been omitted.

What is claimed is A clevis comprising a substantially l.- shaped frameformed with spaced parallel ears for receiving a coupling pin, areleasing hook pivoted to the free end of the longer limb of the saidframe and being of substantially triangular shape in cross section atits free end to provide a wedge terminal, a locking jaw pivotallymounted on the frame and cooperating with the shorter limb thereof forthe clamping of the wedge terminal therebetween, the said shorter limband jaw being formed with inwardly beveled ends to cooperate with thewedge terminal for the spreading of the said jaw on the entrance of thewedge terminalbetween it and the shorter limb of the frame, the saidshorter limb being provided with a notch forming a seat for the wedgeterminal a guide stem integrally formed with the shorter limb of theframe and loosely passed through the jaw and an adjustable tensionelement carried by the stem and working against the jaw to hold the samein clamping relation to the shorter limb of the frame.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MANSELL CHRISTOPHERSON. Witnesses:

C. S. CORNELIUS, E. A. CORNELIUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. (3.

